Alan Swann

Michael Bostwick has given Peterborough United a huge fitness boost ahead of the FA Cup tie against Championship side Preston North End at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday (January 9).

A scan has shown no serious damage on the muscle injury that forced the central defender off the pitch midway through the Christmas defeat at Walsall (December 28). Bostwick had been expected to miss the entire January programme.

Posh manager Graham Westley said: “Michael’s scan was positive which is obviously good news for us. I wouldn’t expect him to play against Preston, but we haven’t ruled him out yet.”

Bostwick was in outstanding form before picking up his injury. If he doesn’t recover in time to face Preston, Westley is expected to stick with the Ricardo Santos/Jack Baldwin central defensive partnership that featured in Saturday’s (January 2) 3-2 win at Sheffield United.

Left-back Kgosi Ntlhe, who hasn’t played for Posh since hurting a toe in the home defeat by Sheffield United on August 18, returns to training with the first team this week.